Supporting-bracket for odometers, &amp;c.



PATENTEDMAY 14, 1907;

" I 11. J:BO0N.=

. SUPPORTING-BRACKET FOR ODOMETERS, M.

LPPLIUATIOI'TILHD JULY 12. 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT. Iv

Specification of Letters Patent.

SUPPORTING-BRACKET FOR ODOIVIETERS, 81,0.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed July 12, 1906.' Serial No. 325,785.

To. all whom it mayconoern:

Be it known that I, HORACE J. BOON, a eltizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting-Brackets for Odometers, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to'the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

dometers and other registering or indicating instruments, such as are commonly employed on automobiles to register distance traveled or to show the speed of travel, are sometimes mounted upon the axle or other part of an automobile in close proximity to the wheel, and sometimes they are mounted upon the body of the automobile, remote from the wheel, motion being transmitted from suitable actuating devices which are mounted in proximity to the wheel. Such instruments or the actuating devices therefor must be mounted or supported with a considerable range of adjustability in order that they may be applied readily to automobiles of different styles or makes.

It is the object of this invention to provide a supporting bracket for such an instrument or for the actuating device thereof which shall be capable of easy application to any ordinary vehicle, shall permit ready andexact adjustment of the instrument or actuating device, shall retain the instrument or actuating device firmly in osition when adjusted, and shall be simp e in construction, comprising but few parts.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which Figure 1 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating the application of one form of the improved bracket. Fig. 2 is a detail top view of the clamp shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 1s a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a diflerent form of clamp. Fig. 4 shows end and side views of one ofthe balls. Figs. 5 and 6 show side and end views of different forms of connecting bars or stems.

In both Figs. 1 and 3 the improved supporting bracket is re resented as applied, as usual, to the front knuckle-joint a of the steerin mechanism of an automobile. The

clamp y which it is thus secured is preferclampi ably of the character shown in. Fig. 1, since such a clamp can be ap lied readily to arms or bars of different wicffhs comprises two jaws]; and 0, preferably supp ed respectively with adjustable, hardened steel points, d, the 'jaws being suitably shaped to engage an arm or bar, such as a. The jaws are united and firmly engaged with the arm or bar a by a bolt 6 and nut e, shims 6 being provided between the bases of the two jaws if desired. The head e of the bolt e may be provided with a pin 6 to en age a recess in the jaw b, or vice versa, to ho d the bolt from turning in its seat. The head is also recessed, as at e to form a socket for one of the balls hereinafter mentioned and is also screw threaded to receive an annular cap f by which the ball is secured in such socket.

The plate or base 9 to which theindicating or measuring instrument or the actuating device therefor is secured by any suitahle means, has a similar head 9, recessed to form a socket g and screw threaded to receive an annular cap 72,.

Between the two heads e and g is interposed a stem or connecting bar iwhich may ave any desired shape according to the conditions ofuse of the device. As shown in As shown, the

Figs. 1 and 3 the stem i is relatively short and straight. In Fig. 5 the stem or connecting bar is shown as having a double bend, while in Fig. 6 the stem or connecting bar 41 is shown as having a single bend. Upon each end of the stem or connecting bar is applied a ball 7c adapted to fit in the corresponding socket e or g and to be held fast therein by the annular screw threaded cap f or k. In order that one stem or connecting bar may be substituted readily for another the balls I; are split upon one or more lines, as at it, so that they can be detached readily from one stem or bar and applied to another and yet shall grip the stem or bar firmly when the capf or it is screwed home to lock the bar in adjustedposition. The stem may be knurled or otherwise formed with a suitable surface to be gripped within the bore k of the ball.

It will be observed that when the clamp b, c has been screwed properly to the arm or bar a, the plate or base 9. for the measuring instrument or actuatin device can be placed exactly as required y the shifting of the balls is in their respective sockets and by the use oi a suitable stem or connecting bar, and can there be held firmly by screwing up the caps f and h.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the jaws b and c of the clamp are extended so as to straddle the arm or bar a and are united on o posite sides of the arm or bar a by bolts 6", tllie jaw b being provided with. a socket head 6 to 00-0 aerate with the corresponding ballk'. This iorm of clamp provides for a very firm engagement with the arm or bar, but it is less convenient in use than the single clamp shown in Fig. 1., as various lengths of jaws must be provided to accommodate different widths of arms.

I .claim as my invention:

1. A supporting bracket for odometers etc. comprising a bolt having a socketed head and an annular cap, a nut for said bolt, jaws carried by said bolt and adapted to be clamped upon the supporting arm or bar, the

supporting plate or base having a socket and an annular cap, and a connecting stem or bar having balls at its ends to engage said sockets and be held therein by said caps.

1 2. A supporting bracket for odometers etc. comprising a bolt having a socketed head and an annular cap, a nut for said bolt, jaws carried by said bolt and adapted to be clamped upon the supporting arm or bar, the

supporting plate or base having a socket and an annular cap, and a connecting stem or bar having split balls at its ends to engage said sockets and be held therein by said caps.

3. A supporting bracket for odometers, etc. comprising a pair of jaws adapted to engage a portion ofa vehicle, a bolt for securing said jaws in place, a socket in the head of said bolt, a supporting arm having a ball adapted to rest in said socket, and a clam .ing member for securing said ball in place in said socket,

4:. A supporting bracket for odometers, etc., comprising a pair of jaws adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle, a bolt for securing said jaws in place, a socket in the head of said belt, a su 'iporting arm having a ball adapted to rest in said socket, and an annular cap in threaded engagement with the head of said bolt and adapted to engage said ball to clamp it in place in said socket.

5. A supporting bracket for odometers, etc., comprising a pair of jaws adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle, a bolt extending through openings in said. jaws and by which they are secured in place, a socket in the head of said belt, a supporting arm, a split ball upon the end of said arm and separable there from and adapted to rest in said socket, and an annular cap in threaded engagement with the head of said bolt and adapted to engage said ball to clamp it in place in said socket and to clamp said ball and arm together.

6. A supporting bracket for oclometers, etc., comprising a clamp adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle, a socket carried by said clamp, a supporting arm, a split ball upon the end of said arm and separable therefrom and adapted to rest in said socket, and an annular cap in engagement with said socket and adapted to engage said ball to clamp it in place and to clamp said ball and arm to gether.

7. A supporting bracket for odometers, etc., comprising a clamp adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle, a socket carried by said clamp, a supporting plate, a socket carried by said plate, a supportin arm extending between said clamp and p ate, a split ball upon each end of said arm, and separable therefrom and adapted to rest in said sockets, and an annular cap in threaded engagement with each of said sockets and adapted to engage said balls to clamp them in place in their respective sockets and to clamp said balls to the ends of said arm.

This specification signed and witnessed this 7th day of July, A. D,, 1906.

HORACE J. BOON.

Signed in the presence of E. BARBIE SMITH, W. B. DUNNING. 

